For the second consecutive July 31 non-waiver trade deadline period, the Los Angeles Dodgers shocked the baseball world by acquiring the most coveted rental on the market. This time, it was landing All-Star shortstop Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for a hefty package of five prospects.
The Dodgers were long viewed a perfect fit for Machado’s services in the wake of losing Corey Seager for the remainder of the 2018 season after he opted to undergo Tommy John surgery in May.
Machado has filled in seamlessly for Seager at shortstop, though he has occasionally lined up at third base as well. That particularly held true when Justin Turner was sidelined while nursing a groin injury at the end of July.
According to Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports, Machado, a free agent at season’s end, is reportedly willing to shift back to his original third base position on a full-time basis if the ideal situation presents itself:
Manny Machado is willing to play third base for the right team, sources again suggest.
Machado is expected to sign one of the most lucrative contracts in MLB history this offseason, when he headlines a stacked free agent class that also includes the likes of Bryce Harper, Josh Donaldson and Andrew Miller, among other All-Star caliber players.
The New York Yankees are considered the early speculative favorite to sign Machado, as the club expressed interest in trading for him before the Dodgers ultimately compelled Baltimore with the best offer.
It remains to be seen if the Dodgers will seriously pursue the prospect of bringing back Machado on a long-term contract, but doing so would require multiple players to change positions. Seager has already made it clear he expects to return to shortstop and play the position without issue after undergoing hip and Tommy John surgeries.
